Luke 1:57-80; John 1:6-9

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

Reading for   October 5, 2012      Page 17-18   Luke 1:57-80; John 1:6-9

Zachariah makes a huge leap of faith in the naming of his son John. The cultural tradition called for him to extend his family name by giving his first born child his own name. This time, Zachariah didn’t balk at the leading of the Lord, but followed the instructions of the angel of the Lord.

Zachariah’s insight into the continuity of God working through his people can be an example and inspiration to all of the followers of Jesus: “He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham” (Luke 1:72-73). Regrettably, few people remember much past their own birth; few people can name the founders of their church. Zachariah interpreted God’s action in his son John, and in Jesus, as God’s faithfulness to His covenant promise to Abraham. Few Christians today think of God’s blessings for His church as examples of His faithfulness to the people He called to lead His church through uncertain times, such as St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Billy Graham, or Mother Teresa.

In Zachariah’s world, the people of Israel had been run over by foreigners for hundreds of years. Oppression and brutality by invading forces had become their way of life. Most of Zachariah’s countrymen had hatred for both the foreigners and the leaders of their own country. John the Baptist was born into a culture of angry people. Even so, there were still sparks of an eternal hope within Elizabeth and Zachariah.

We too, in this present age, are living in a culture of angry people. The approval ratings of our national leaders reach new lows each week. The economic news is as dismal as the political news. In print and electronic mediums, we are bombarded with angry messages telling us what to think. In contrast to the present darkness of this age, Jesus calls his followers to also draw hope and strength from the faithfulness of God. As we choose to trust God with our present and our future, we can become counter-cultural and embrace Zachariah’s faith in the ultimate victory of God.

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,

    because he has visited and redeemed his people.

He has sent us a mighty Savior

    from the royal line of his servant David,

just as he promised

    through his holy prophets long ago.

“And you, my little son,

    will be called the prophet of the Most High,

    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

You will tell his people how to find salvation

    through forgiveness of their sins.

Because of God’s tender mercy,

    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:68-70, 76-79

Praise the Lord, the God of Hope.

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

October 8, 2012      The City of David, My Birth Place Page 21-22   Matthew 1:18a, 2:1a; Luke 2:1-21